China

Beijing Travel Guide

Beijing Travel Guide

With traditional hutongs and temples a stone's throw
from immense skyscrapers, Beijing is a sprawling metropolis as
historically rich as it is alive with modernity.

China's huge capital city is a perennial favourite with tourists
and backpackers, as it has a wide range of unusual sights, sounds,
smells and tastes to offer. The city's unique cultural elements are
alive and well and can be experienced first-hand in Beijing's
indigenous cuisine,
temples and traditional performances. Beijing is nevertheless more
than up-to-date with modern trends and fashions, partly as a result
of its cosmopolitan expat population and partly because China is
increasingly an international trend-setter in its own right.

A global hub of business, culture and entertainment, Beijing has
an incredibly diverse nightlife that will keep even
the most demanding of socialites satisfied at all hours. Especially
during the summer months, areas like the Sanlitun bar street are
buzzing from dusk till dawn. Visitors hoping to lighten their
pockets will also have no shortage of shopping opportunities; from
bustling markets like Silk Street (Xiushuijie) to colossal shopping
malls like the 13-storey Xidan Joy Center, Beijing has it all.

China is a teeming medley of more than 50 officially recognised
ethnic minorities and Beijing, as the country's capital, is
suitably varied and representative. The city's many attractions are testament
to this, and visitors will find exploring everything fully a
near-impossible task.

Best time to visit Beijing

Beijing's climate is one of extremes. With hot, humid summers
and chilling, dry winters, travellers will find that spring and
autumn (April to May and September to October) are the best times
of year to visit. The weather during these seasons is pleasant,
temperate and highly conducive to sightseeing. Read more about
Beijing's climate and
weather.

What to see in Beijing

-The breath-taking and historically poignant Tiananmen Square is a must-see for those
visiting Beijing.

-It is practically an obligation for travellers to journey out
of the city to see the Great Wall;
tourists can stroll along the historic landmark at a number of
different locations.

-The Beijing National Stadium,
also known as the Bird's Nest during the 2008 Olympics, is a
spectacular feat of modern architecture.

-Experience the thriving Beijing art scene in 798 Space, a notable gallery in the city's
famous art district. Read more about China attractions.

-Travellers can learn about early humans and see the remains of
the famous 'Peking Man' at the Zhoukoudian Cave, just south of the
city.

Beyond Beijing

Despite its size, travelling within China is relatively simple.
This is especially the case from its capital city, as there are
frequent buses, trains and flights going to all corners of the
country. From Beijing, travellers may enjoy meandering down to
Xi'an, resting place of the
remarkable Terracotta Army, or to Chengdu, home of the world's largest
Panda Breeding and Research Center.

Getting there

All international flights to the city will land in Beijing City
International Airport, located 17 miles (28km) north of the city.
From the airport, visitors can either take a taxi, shuttle service
or express train to the heart of the city and beyond. Beijing's
extensive public transport system, while generally crowded, is
reliable; visitors should not experience much difficulty
navigating.

Did you know?

-Despite being called the 'kingdom of bicycles', the number of
cyclists in Beijing has more than halved in the past 15 years; this
is largely a result of the city's growing middle-class, who
consider owning a car to be a greater status symbol.

-Beijing's signature dish, Peking Duck, is a carefully prepared
delicacy that has been around since the imperial era and is a
favourite of Henry Kissinger.

-Beijing's subway is one of the busiest in the world, with more
than 11 million trips on a busy day.

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